My Backyard

Natural Resource Conservation Begins in My Backyard

Virginia Cooperative Extension Loudoun County Master Gardeners educate on environmentally sound landscape management practices for the homeowner. Conservation and preservation of our natural resources, like soil and water, is the ultimate goal. My Backyard is a self-guided program designed to assist and guide residents with healthy soil, lawns, trees, shrubs, perennial flowers, and more. Here is our brochure: My Backyard Program.

You probably know that pesticides and herbicides are powerful chemicals that can injure wildlife if overused. But, did you know that over-fertilization and erosion are major threats to Virginia waterways and wildlife? Carried with rainwater into lakes, rivers or the Chesapeake Bay, nitrogen from fertilizer feeds toxic algae to create dead zones where nothing else can survive. Sediment from erosion clouds waterways, preventing the growth of aquatic grasses—the base of the food chain for many fish and waterfowl.

The good news is that you can help protect Virginia’s natural resources and still enjoy a vibrant, healthy yard. By taking part in theMy Backyardprogram, you receive education necessary to implement an environmental landscape management plan for your own yard, which will save you both time and money, making it even easier to enjoy. You can also certify your yard and become a Watershed Partner using our yardstick evaluation scorecard! Does your yard measure up?